KUCHING: A no-plastic no-styrofoam campaign carried out by Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) since January last year has not been as effective as desired.
On why this is so, MPP deputy chairman Datuk Ahmad Ibrahim said some people are resistant to change required by the campaign although some have responded quite well.
The council’s no-plastic-
bags initiative is enforced every Saturday at every grocery store, supermarket, and hypermarket within the local authority’s area of jurisdiction.
At the same time the council also tries to educate eateries and the public in general to stop using styrofoam food containers.
Unfortunately, according to Ahmad, some people acted as
recommended by the campaign only for a few months and then went back to using plastic bags again.
“I believe that society takes time to accept the change. Hopefully more people will do the right thing for the sake of the future generation,” he said.
Ahmad said the council was not discouraged but would continue to carry out the campaign aggressively to increase public awareness of the damaging effects of using plastic and styrofoam.
“Styrofoam is bad for the health as it can cause cancer. Plastic, on the other hand, does not dissolve in water or disintegrate over a long period of time. Sea creatures that swallow it can die.
“I hope consumers would become more concerned about the environment and their health, and eventually do away with plastic and styrofoam completely,” he told reporters during a colouring contest that was a part of a ‘No Plastic Bag’ campaign organised by MPP and Giant Hypermarket in Kota Padawan yesterday
The campaign included a colouring contest for children from the age of five to 10 to get them to understand why is it important not to use plastic bags and styrofoam.
The contest which drew 23 children was divided into two categories – Category A for those age five to six years old, and Category B for seven to 10-year-olds.
In Category A, Syaffa Aqierra Abdullah won the first prize. While for the second and third places were won by Awang Muhammad Al-Fateh and Zahin Zafran Maruzi respectively.
In Catergory B, first place went to Molson Warriore Daut, followed by Sylters Usi Rejie in second place and and Abdul Qayyum Lawrence Anthony in third place.
All winners were rewarded with a hamper, goodie bags, and certificate each.
Also present at the event were Kota Padawan Giant Hypermarket general manager Robert Tadong, complex manager Kimberly Guan, and complex executive Jara Lajang.
